What would you like a pill for?

• Flagship caliber efficiency

  OnePlus Pad 2

  OnePlus is well-known for creating merchandise that provide flagship-level efficiency at very enticing costs. The OnePlus Pad 2 continues that ethos because of its midrange value and really highly effective Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. It is a well-rounded pill that ought to cowl most individuals’s wants.

  Execs

  • Sharp and vibrant show
  • Blistering quick efficiency
  • Nice battery life

  Cons

  • No mobile possibility
  • Stylus price additional
  • No fingerprint sensor

• 

  Premium design

  Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+

  $500 $600 Save $100

  The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is a strong midrange pill that does so properly. It has a handsome show, a built-in S Pen, and nice battery life. It additionally has flagship constructed high quality, however is let down by its processor, which isn’t as much as par with the competitors.

  Execs

  • Stunning and enormous show
  • Incredible battery life
  • S Pen included

  Cons

  • No mobile connectivity
  • Efficiency is not as quick because the Pad 2

When planning your subsequent pill buy, figuring out your wants will go a great distance in figuring out the very best one for you. Much like how you’d method shopping for an Android cellphone, deciding what you need or want from a pill helps you analysis all of the accessible units to make an knowledgeable determination.

When you’re taking a look at midrange pricing, the OnePlus Pad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ will possible be in your shortlist. On one hand, OnePlus is thought for its extremely performant units that punch a lot increased than their value would point out. Then again, Samsung makes a ton of nice, cheap tablets, however the Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ provides a singular mix of options, a flagship design, and first rate efficiency at a horny value.

Whereas each tablets are nice in their very own proper, which pill it is best to go along with will rely in your wants.

Value, availability, and specs

The OnePlus Pad 2 hit retail cabinets in July 2024 for $550. It’s accessible in a single Wi-Fi-only configuration with 256GB of storage and is available in one shade, Nimbus Grey. When you intend to make use of the Pad 2 to take notes or write, simply know that it doesn’t include a stylus, though OnePlus will fortunately promote you the Stylo 2 stylus for $100. It may be bought straight from OnePlus or a licensed retailer reminiscent of Amazon.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is 9 months older, launching in October 2023, and is on the market in two Wi-Fi-only configurations. You may get the Tab S9 FE+ with both 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $600 and $700, respectively. The Tab S9 FE+ is on the market in 4 colorways: Grey, Silver, Mint, and Lavender. It’s accessible straight from Samsung or retailers like Amazon and Greatest Purchase.

• 	OnePlus Pad 2	Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
  SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3	Samsung Exynos 1380
  Show sort	LCD, 144Hz	90Hz IPS LCD
  Show dimensions	12.1″	12.4″
  Show decision	3000 x 2120	2560 x 1600
  RAM	8 or 12GB	8GB or 12GB
  Storage	128GB or 256GB	128GB, 256GB (expandable with microSD)
  Battery	9,510mAh	10,090mAh
  Charging velocity	67W SuperVOOC	45W wired
  Cost choices	USB-C wired	USB-C
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  Working System	Android 14 with OxygenOS 14	Android 13 with One UI 5.1.1
  Entrance Digicam	8MP	12MP ultrawide
  Rear Digicam	13MP	8MP most important, 8MP ultrawide
  Wi-Fi connectivity	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 6
  Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3
  Dimensions	268.7 x 195.1 x 6.5mm	285.4 x 185.4 x 6.5mm
  Weight	584g	628g
  Colours	Nimbus Grey	Grey, Silver, Mint, Lavender
  Value	$550	From $600

Design

Premium appear and feel

These two units have the same look and total really feel, and there are two fast issues that you’ll discover when evaluating the 2.

The primary is their total measurement, with the Pad 2 being a bit extra boxy with its 268.7 x 195.1 x 6.5mm body. The Tab S9 FE+ is extra rectangular and is available in at 285.4 x 185.4 x 6.5mm. I choose the Pad 2’s total dimensions because it’ll assist with productiveness when held in panorama, however the Galaxy Tab would win out for media consumption. The Pad 2 additionally weighs a bit much less at 584g in comparison with the S9 FE+’s 627g.

Each units function a glass entrance with small bezels, an aluminum body, and an aluminum again. Preserve the Pad 2 away from mud and water because it doesn’t have an IP score, whereas Samsung’s pill has an IP68 score in opposition to mud and water ingress.

Wanting on the again, you’ll instantly discover the very totally different digicam housing. The Pad 2 retains the unique OnePlus Pad’s giant round digicam housing positioned prominently on the again, situated within the high middle of the pill. Pill cameras aren’t often excellent, so the Pad 2’s outstanding placement feels a bit misplaced. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ homes its digicam lenses within the upper-right nook.

When holding these tablets in panorama, the Pad 2’s left edge options some audio system and an influence button. The suitable aspect has extra audio system and a USB-C port, whereas the highest has quantity buttons. The Galaxy Tab has a speaker on each side, whereas the suitable aspect additionally has a USB-C port. The highest has the amount and energy buttons. The Pad 2 lacks a fingerprint sensor, which is disappointing, whereas Samsung’s providing has one baked into the ability button.

If audio high quality is necessary to you, then the Pad 2 and its six-speaker setup is the clear winner right here. The Pad 2 will get fairly loud and provides a wealthy sound that may absolutely please the ears. The S9 FE+ solely has two audio system, which do an honest job however lack bass and simply don’t sound nearly as good as those on the Pad 2.

Show

A number of room for a number of apps

Each the OnePlus Pad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ include giant shows which can be going to serve you properly for each productiveness and media consumption. The Pad 2 has a 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel that may hit 900 nits of peak brightness. With a decision of 3000 x 2120 and a 144Hz refresh charge, the show is each a lot sharp and fluid.

Samsung additionally went with an IPS LCD panel however elevated the scale barely to 12.4 inches. With a decision of 2560 x 1600, the S9 FE+ additionally has a pointy show, but it surely isn’t nearly as good because the Pad 2’s. Samsung additionally outfitted the Galaxy Tab with a slower 90hz refresh charge and a decrease total brightness of lower than 800 nits.

It’s a bit disappointing that neither producer went with an OLED show, because it’s significantly better at displaying vibrant colours and giving these inky blacks. In the long run, the OnePlus Pad 2 has the sting within the show division.

Software program

Getting actual work executed

Because of their elevated display actual property, an excellent pill can reap the benefits of the additional house by their respective software program. Fortunately, each tablets reap the benefits of that additional house through multi-app assist and side-by-side viewing. The Pad 2 ships with Android 14 and OxygenOS 14.1, which looks like inventory Android, save for some particular OnePlus apps. These apps are AI-heavy and embody an AI Eraser, AI Toolbox, AI Communicate, AI Abstract, and AI Author.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ got here with Android 13 and One UI 5.1.1, however that has been up to date to Android 14 and One UI 6. Samsung has been making nice tablets for a very long time and has honed its ONE UI software program to reap the benefits of the additional house. You possibly can have a number of apps open on the identical time, in addition to having a floating window open for much more customization.

With the inclusion of the S Pen, Samsung’s One UI permits you to reap the benefits of the stylus wherever you might be by taking a fast screenshot and letting you mark it up nevertheless you please. The S Pen can also be wonderful for taking notes, writing in a journal, or drawing. Samsung contains apps that absolutely reap the benefits of these options. Very similar to OnePlus, Samsung additionally contains quite a lot of its personal apps, together with its personal AI options.

Software program assist is one other main space that may differentiate tablets, however not right here, as each firms are on equal footing. OnePlus guarantees three years of Android updates and 4 years of safety updates; Samsung guarantees 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates. As a result of Pad 2 having shipped with Android 14 and the Galaxy Tab having shipped with Android 13, they need to get equal assist shifting ahead.

Efficiency

Strong day by day performers

In case you are after most efficiency, then the OnePlus Pad 2 is the hands-down winner. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 256GB of storage, the Pad 2 provides efficiency that rivals tablets that price considerably extra. You should have no bother operating the newest video games, having a number of apps open, and even video enhancing.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ provides first rate efficiency, however is nowhere close to as succesful because the Pad 2. With an Exynos 1380 processor, and both 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the S9 FE+ could have little bother getting you thru your day-to-day routine. Count on it to battle a bit when you begin demanding so much from it, reminiscent of when taking part in the newest video games.

Sadly, it’ll additionally possible decelerate a bit as future software program updates take their toll on the general efficiency.

Battery life

Nice longevity

When you want a long-lasting pill, you may’t go flawed with both pill, as each units supply giant capacities that hold you going for fairly a while. The Pad 2 ships with a 9510mAh battery that may be charged through USB-C at as much as 67W. This will get you to 64% in half-hour or absolutely charged in about 80 minutes.

The Tab S9 FE+ has a barely greater battery at 10090mAh, however prices a bit slower at 45W through USB-C; it may well cost as much as 100% in round 90 minutes.

The Galaxy Tab has a bigger battery, however the Pad 2 has the improved effectivity of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and quicker charging. Both manner, each tablets can simply final a very long time and shouldn’t provide you with any bother.

Digicam

Typical pill cameras

OnePlus outfitted the Pad 2 with a single 13MP digicam lens that may report 4K and 1080p video at as much as 30fps. It additionally has an 8MP front-facing digicam that may report 1080p video at 30fps. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ will get a twin digicam setup consisting of an 8MP most important lens and an 8MP ultrawide lens, and might report 4K and 1080p content material at as much as 30fps. The S9 FE+ additionally has a 12MP front-facing lens.

Pill cameras are satisfactory at finest and that’s what you are getting from each tablets. Don’t anticipate to snap nice images, however they’re there in a pinch. If the lighting is nice, the photographs these tablets seize aren’t too unhealthy. As soon as the situations begin deteriorating, so will the picture high quality, however the S9 FE+ does have extra versatility because of its ultrawide lens. Each units will just do nice for video calls.

Which is best for you?

There are such a lot of nice Android tablets at nearly each value level that choosing one has by no means been simpler. That additionally implies that doing all of your due diligence and understanding what every pill does properly is essential to choosing the proper one to your particular person wants. Whereas everybody’s wants range, some wants are extra outstanding than others.

For most individuals, the OnePlus Pad 2 will supply a greater expertise. With a quick Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM, this pill completely flies. It additionally has a big show, nice battery life, and ample storage. It nonetheless has years of software program assist left, too, so you realize it’s going to be round for some time. Nevertheless, it’s not an ideal system, because it lacks a mobile possibility and doesn’t include a stylus, which can be a dealbreaker for some.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is nice for many who have already got a Samsung cellphone, love the thought of utilizing the S Pen, or need a premium-feeling pill. The S9 FE+ isn’t going to win any velocity competitions, but it surely’s nonetheless an honest performer. Its show and battery are additionally on par with the Pad 2. The most important knock in opposition to Samsung’s providing, nevertheless, is that it’s costlier at its base configuration in comparison with the Pad 2.